Spouse: Joseph Parks
Marriage: estimated 1718
Birth: 7 Jul 1690, Billerica, Middlesex Co, MA
Death: 3 Oct 1764, Pomfret, Windham Co, CT
Father: Patrick Fassett
Mother: Sarah (--?--)
Spouse: Elizabeth Parks
Marriage: 4 Feb 1713/14, Concord, Middlesex Co, MA
Spouse: Eleanor (--?--)
Marriage: 5 Feb 1758, Brooklyn, Windham Co, CT
Notes:
Benjamin was the son of Patrick and Sarah, per Billerica birth record.
HOME INDEXBaptism: 17 Jul 1715, Dorchester, Suffolk Co, MA
Father: Josiah Hobbs
Mother: Esther Davenport
Spouse: Ephraim Parks
Intention: 11 Mar 1732/33, Weston, Middlesex Co, MA
Notes:
Research Notes for Mary Hobbs:
Josiah Hobbs and Esther Davenport were married in Dorchester 7 April 1709.8 They apparently attended the church there until 17 May 1724, when "Josiah Hobs [was] dismissed to ye old north Chh in Boston."9 Two children are recorded in the church records: Mary, baptized 17 July 1715, and Hepzibah, bapt. 5 Oct 1718.10 In addition, the birth of Tabitha is recorded in Cambridge, 8 Apr 1712.1 However, another birth for Tabitha is recorded in Dorchester, 10 July 1715.11 Note that this date is a week before Mary's baptism.
This probably explains why the Thwing Collection of Boston area records lists a child of Josiah and Esther as "Tabitha bap 1715 as Mary, in Dorchester."12
There are several ways to interpret the fact that two Tabatha's appeared in the birth records, followed by a baptism of Mary a week after the second Tabitha was born. One possibility is that the first Tabitha died (though there is no record of it), and the second Tabitha had middle name Mary, or was otherwise called Mary during the baptism, and perhaps for the remainder of her life. If so, Frederick Lewis Weiss's genealogy, showing Tabitha b. 10 July 1715, m. (1) 29 Oct 1730 Samuel Jones, (2) 29 May 1745 William Munroe of Lexington (see below) conflicts with this theory. Tabitha bore her name throughout adulthood.13
Another possibility is that the first Tabitha survived, and the birth record of the second Tabitha was incorrectly recorded - it should have been Mary. Yet another possibility is the the first Tabitha died, the birth of Mary is unrecorded, but her baptism is recorded in Dorchester, coincidentally a week after the birth of the second Tabitha.
Josiah and Esther moved with their children to Weston in 1730.14 They were admitted to the Weston church in 1732.15
Numerous Hobbs children were married (or published intentions) in Weston between 1730 and 1749. Amongst these were Ebenezer, Josiah, John, Sarah, Dorcas, Hannah, and Nathan, all of whom are documented as children of Josiah and Esther in the Genealogy of the Hobbs Family of Massachusetts. However, Mary Hobbs, who published intentions in Weston 11 Mar 1732/33, is not included in the Hobbs genealogy, almost certainly a mistake; nor is Tabitha or Hepsibah. The Hobbs genealogy has a large gap in births for Esther and Josiah between their first child, born in 1709, and their second child (twins), born in 1721. The twelve year gap in births is not plausible, especially since Esther was in her prime child bearing years. Tabitha, and Hepsibah, whose birth and baptism records were noted earlier, both of whose marriages (or intentions) were recorded in Weston, were clearly born within this gap. Probably Mary was also born within this gap.
Note that Ebenezer Hobbs, one of the children above, married in Weston, was a creditor to the estate of Daniel Parks.16 Note also that Isaac Hobbs (probably the son of Ebenezer Hobbs) witnessed a land transaction in which Ephraim and Mary sold property to Josiah Parks on 19 Nov 1763.17
These connections further bolster the case that Mary was the daughter of Josiah and Esther (Davenport) Hobbs. Henry Bond, Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts also comes to the conclusion that Mary was a daughter of Josiah and Esther, along with all the other Hobbs residents of Weston who married there in the decade around 1740.18
TODO:
Look for land records that might tie Mary Hobbs to a sibling or her parents. Look for Ephraim Parks land records, and perhaps Samuel Jones and/or William Munroe.
Can also look for Hobbs land records, probate records, and look for Ephraim or Mary Parks as witness, creditor, debtor, etc.
Parentage:
The parentage of Mary Hobbs has been confused because she, along with two of her siblings, has been omitted from The Genealogy of the Hobbs Family in Massachusetts, a seemingly well researched book, but with multiple mistakes. The book documented the births of all the children of Josiah and Esther (Davenport) Hobbs who were born in Boston and Weston. But the book left a twelve year gap between the first and second born children of Esther, a gap too large to be credible.5
An examination of the Cambridge and Dorchester records uncovers three daughters who fill the gap: Tabitha, b. Cambridge 8 Apr 1812;1 another Tabitha, b. Dorchester 10 July 1715;2 Mary, bapt. Dorchester 17 July 1715;3 and Hepzibah, bapt. Dorchester 5 Oct 1718.3 Josiah and Esther were married in Dorchester 7 April 1709,4 and were members of the church there until they were dismissed on 17 May 1724 to the old North Church in Boston.19
Josiah and Esther moved to Weston in 17305 and joined the church there in 1732.6 Their children apparently came with them, and filed intentions and/or were married there, including Mary (p. 31), Ebenezer (p. 33, 39), Hepzibah (p. 36, 39), Josiah (p. 52), John (p. 52), Sarah (p. 60, 62), Dorcas (p. 60, 62), Hannah (p. 67), Nathan (p. 92), and Tabitha.7 Josiah and his wife Esther both died in Weston (p. 313).20
Mary's colocation with the family in Dorchester and Weston, and the reference to her father Josiah in her baptism record, is a strong clue that she was the daughter of Josiah and Esther (Davenport) Hobbs.
Besides her omission from the Hobbs genealogy, Mary's baptism record also adds some confusion. It is listed in the Dorchester church records, under baptisms for 1715: "Mary Daughter of Joisah Hobs, July 17." The omission of reference to her mother, Esther, is not surprising, since none of the baptism records reference the mother. But her baptismal date just a week after the supposed birth of Tabitha (see above) is surprising. A possible explanation is that the second birth record of Tabitha is mistaken, and should have been recorded as Mary. This would make Tabitha's age when she married in Weston 29 Oct 1730 to Samuel Jones a little closer to the statistical norm - she would have been 18 rather than 15.7 Another possibility, of course, is that the first Tabitha died, the second Tabitha was born in Dorchester, and a week later, Mary, was baptised, without Tabitha, for whatever reason.
There are some other records that tie Mary (Hobbs) Parks to this family. Isaac Hobbs (probably Mary's nephew, son of Ebenezer), was witness to a land transaction dated 19 Nov 1763, in which Ephraim and Mary sold property to Josiah Parks.17 Ebenezer Hobbs (probably the son of Isaac above) was a creditor to the estate of Daniel Parks who died 15 Jan 1800 in Lincoln.16 On 28 Aug 1809 he was also listed as a creditor to the estate of Ephraim Parks, son of Samuel, grandson of the Ephraim who m. Mary Hobbs.21 Matthew Hobbs (probably Mary's nephew, son of Ebenezer), cut wood for Zaccheus Parks, of whom Ephraim was a guardian.22
Sources:
Birth: 11 Sep 1700, Concord, Middlesex Co, MA
Death: 18 Oct 1790, Uxbridge, Worcester Co, MA
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Spouse: Stephen Fish
Marriage: 7 Jan 1722/23, Reading, Middlesex Co, MA
Notes:
Nathaniel Fish, son of Stephen and Abigail was born 26 May 1723 in Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts, and was baptized 1724 in Reading.1
The following additional children of Stephen and Abigail were recorded in Uxbridge: Rebecca, bp. 20 June 1731, Benjamin, bp. 1 July 1733, Ebenezer, b. 11 Aug 1739.2
Stephen died 13 Jan 1766 in Uxbridge. He made his will on 29 Aug 1765, and it was approved 12 May 1766. In it he names his wife, Abigail, his sons Nathaniel and Benjamin Fish; children of his daughter Abigail Aldrich deceased - Elisha Aldrich, Susanah Aldrich, Kathrine Aldrich, and Amariah Aldrich; daughter Rebecca Fassett; granddaughter Cloe Fish; and grandsons Nathan Fish and Josiah Fish.3
The marriage of his daughter, Abigail, to Joseph Aldrich, of Glocester, Rhode Island, 19 Mar 1750/51 is recorded in Uxbridge.
The latter grandchildren named in the will, Cloe, Nathan, and Josiah Fish were all sons of Stephen and Mary Fish, births recorded in Uxbridge. Stephen is therefore presumed to be a son of Stephen and Abigail, though no birth or marriage record has been found.
Abigail, widow, died 18 Oct 1790, "in her 91st y."
Sources:
Birth: estimated 1712
Death: 15 Jan 1800, Lincoln, Middlesex Co, MA
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Spouse: Elizabeth Walker
Marriage: 13 Jun 1749, Sudbury, Middlesex, MA
Spouse: Lydia Priest
Marriage: 29 Dec 1763, Lincoln, Middlesex Co, MA
Notes:
Records frequently refer to Elizabeth as Sarah, presumably a nickname.
Daniel and Sarah had the following children: Elizabeth Parks, b. 18 Mar 1749 in Concord, died young; Elizabeth Parks, b. 19 Mar 1750, d. 27 June 1752, Daniel Parks, b. 4 May 1752, d. 4 July 1752, Sarah, b. 20 Feb 1754, Elizabeth, b. 30 June 1755, Hannah, b. 25 Aug 1757, all born in Lincoln. Sarah, his wife, died 12 May 1760 in Lincoln.
Daniel and Lydia had the following children, all born in Lincoln: Rebeckah, b. 6 Apr 1764, bp. 1 Jan 1769, d. 5 Dec 1781 "in 18th y," Daniel, b. 7 July 1766, Scibel [Sibel], b. 14 Apr 1772, Zebel [Isabel?], b. 1 Dec 1775, Lucy, bp. 20 Dec 1774, Relief, b. prob. 22 Oct 1778 [22 Oct 1779 in records], bp. 25 Oct 1778, Isaac, b. 29 Feb 1780, and Rebekah, b. 12 Oct 1784.
He made his will on 25(?) March 1795, but on 12 Mar 1800 it was disapproved by the probate court on the grounds that Daniel was not of "sound or disposing mind." In his will, he left bequests to his wife, Lydia, son Daniel, daughter Elizabeth, wife of James Jones, daughter Hannah, wife of Thomas Williams, daughter Sibel, wife of Jesse Marsh, daughter Lucy wife of Jonathan Whiting, daughter Relief, son Isaac, daughter Rebecka. He appointed his wife Lydia, and son-in-law Jesse Marsh executors.1
In June 1800, Daniel's youngest children, Isaac and Rebecca, chose Joseph Russell of Weston as their guardian.2
Sources:
Birth: 30 Jul 1705, Concord, Middlesex Co, MA
Death: 18 Feb 1706/7, Concord, Middlesex Co, MA
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Birth: about 1710
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Spouse: Mary Hobbs
Intention: 11 Mar 1732/33, Weston, Middlesex Co, MA
Notes:
On 14 Mar 1725, Benjamin Browne, of Weston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts was appointed guardian to Ephraim Parks "a minor in his fiteenth year of age a son of Richard Parks late of Concord." This would place his birth date around 1710. On 29 Nov 1736 Ephraim released (discharged) Benjamin Browne as his guardian.1
Ephraim and Mary had twelve children between the years 1734 and 1761. Recorded in Concord are William 28 July 1734, Ephraim 27 June 1737, John 3 Nov 1739, Isaac & Jacob, twins, 19 May 1742, Mary 18 Feb 1745, Lucy 14 Mar 1747, Samuel 6 Nov 1749, and Dorcas 9 Jun 1752. Recorded in Lincoln are: Eleazar 20 Nov 1754, Josiah 9 Aug 1757, and Anna 20 July 1761.
On 23 March 1764, the selectmen of Lincoln, Middlesex County, judged Zaccheus Parks of Lincoln to be non-compos (unable to care for himself), and recommended that his brother, Ephraim Parks, be his guardian. On April 1st of the same year Ephraim Parks of Lincoln was officially appointed guardian of Zaccheus.
Ephraim was still guardian to Zaccheus on 13 Nov 1783, when Ephraim and Zaccheus entered into an agreement in the presence of the Lincoln selectmen to allow Ephraim's accounts of guardianship to be audited.2
Ephraim died between 17 March 1785, when he and his wife, Mary, appeared in person to acknowledge a deed, and the 2nd Tuesday (14th) of September 1790, when he is called "now deceased" in another deed.3
On 12 March 1789 a new guardian was appointed for Zaccheus - Timothy Browne of Lincoln who remained guardian of Zaccheus until his death.4
Research Notes for Ephraim Park:
Ephraim's gaurdianship refers to his father as "Richard Parks late of Concord ... deceased," but on 14 Mar 1725, Richard had not yet passed away. It is possible that Ephraim was assigned a guardian before his father passed away, and the standard language referring to Richard as deceased had mistakenly not been crossed out. Also, it is curious that Ephraim would have waited until age 26 to release his guardian, a full three years after having married Mary Hobbs in Weston.
The Parke Families of Massachusetts indicates that Ephraim's son, Ephraim Jr., married Mary ____, and had a daughter Anna, b. 20 July 1761 in Concord. So far, there hasn't surfaced any plausible evidence to indicate that Anna wasn't the last child of Ephraim and Mary (Hobbs) Parks. The land records for Ephraim Hobbs in Middlesex County before 1799 don't give any positive evidence that there were two different Ephraims in Lincoln. There was an Ephraim that appeared in Lincoln after 1800, but this was the son of Samuel, per 1808 Middlesex probate records, which show that Ephraim died around 1808, about the same time he disappeared from the Middlesex County land records. The land records for Ephraim after 1800 have no spousal signatures, consistent with the 1808 probate record for Ephraim Parks of Lincoln that says that he died unmarried.
In summary, there doesn't appear to be any evidence Ephraim Jr. married Mary ____ and had child Anna. It seems more plausible that Anna was the last daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Hobbs) Parks. If Mary were born circa 1715 (as FamilySearch.org claims), then she would have been 46, not beyond child bearing age.
Sources:
Birth: 26 Dec 1707, Concord, Middlesex Co, MA
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Spouse: Rebecca Copeland
Marriage: 14 May 1740, Uxbridge, Worcester Co, MA
Notes:
Isaac was from Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut when he married in Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts, 14 May 1740 Rebeckah Copeland.1 Isaac and Rebeckah had eight children recorded in Pomfret: Lydia, b. 6 Feb 1740/1, Isaac Parks b. 15 Apr 1743, Rebeckah, b. 1 Apr 1746, Mary, b. 10 Jan 1748/9, Luce, b. 24 Dec 1752, Abel, b. 13 June 1755, Olive, b. 1 Nov 1757, and Theode, b. May 1760.2 On 1 May 1763 Isaac and Rebeca were admited to the church in Putnam by letter from the Church of Christ, Brooklyn, in Pomfret.3
Many of Rebecca's siblings also resided in Pomfret and nearby Brooklyn.4
Apparently, many members of this family moved to Hanover, Grafton County, New Hampshire.
On 25 Feb 1793, Abel Parks, Molly Chandler (wife of David Chandler), Lucy Hatch (wife of Benjamin Hatch), Theode Bridgeman (wife of Isaac Bridgeman), all of Hanover, Grafton County, New Hampshire, all heirs of Zaccheus Parks, quitclaimed unto Samuel Parks interest in the estate of Zaccheus.5 All were children of Isaac and Rebecca (Copeland) Parks; implying Isaac was deceased by that date.
Isaac Parks was a resident of Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut, on 5 Jan 1793, when he quitclaimed his interests in the estate of Zaccheus Parks.6 This is, no doubt, the son of Isaac and Rebecca.
Given that several of her children resided in Hanover, New Hampshire, it seems likely that the "widow Rebecca Parks, aged 83" whose death at Hanover is noted in the 6 August 1803 edition of the Weekly Wanderer (Randolph, VT), is Rebecca Copeland, spouse of Isaac Parks. Her age is within a year of her birth date, recorded in Braintree, adding more weight to the argument that she is the daughter of William and Mary.
Research Notes:
Mayflower Families Through Five Generations has a good discussion of the evidence for Rebecca's parentage.
A search of the Pomfret and Putnam land records in Connecticut might yield more definitive proof, though Mayflower Families Through Five Generations seems to have already done this research.
Look at Suffolk County, Massachusetts, deeds, grantee index, to see if Isaac and Rebecca Park sold their rights to the estate of Rebecca's parents. Results: No relevant deeds found in grantor indexes for Copeland and Parks.
Sources:
Birth: Feb 1701/2, Concord, Middlesex Co, MA
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Spouse: Mary Whiting
Marriage: 27 Aug 1728, Dedham, Norfolk Co, MA
Notes:
Jonathan was from Concord and Mary from Dedham at the time of their marriage, per marriage record. They had two children in Concord: Jonathan Parks, b. 28 Feb 1728/29, and Samuel Parks, b. 12 June 1731.1
They apparently moved to Pomfret, Winham County, Connecticut (where his brother Isaac lived) after the birth of Samuel. They had more children in Pomfret: Richard, b. 28 Sep 1733, who died 1 Sep 1735, Richard no. 2, b. 15 Feb 1735/36, and Jonas, b. 5 July 1738.2
Jonathan was at the Beekman Patent in Dutchess County, New York, by 1741 when he was first assessed at tax of 2 pounds.3
Their son, Jonathan Parks, is buried in the Bangall Baptist Church Cemetery #1, Dutches County, New York.4
Sources:
Birth: 26 Dec 1707, Concord, Middlesex Co, MA
Death: 14 Jun 1748, Mansfield, Tolland Co, CT
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Spouse: Zachariah Parker
Marriage: 11 Aug 1732, Weston, Middlesex Co, MA
Notes:
Zachariah and Rebecca were both "of Weston" when they married in Aug 1732.
A receipt amongst the probate records of Rebecca's father, Richard Parks of Concord, dated 14 Nov 1732, attests to the "full discharge of legacy given to Rebeckah Parks by the last will and testament of her Hon'd father," signed by Zechariah Parker and Rebeckah Parker.1
Two children of Zachariah and Rebecca were born in Weston - Zachariah Parker, 27 Oct 1732, and Ephraim Parker, 1 Oct 1733, both recorded in Mansfield, Tolland County, Connecticut.2
The birth of their daughter, Rebeckah, 9 May 1735, is recorded in Pomfret.3
After the death of his wife, Zachariah Parker married second in Mansfield, 26 Oct 1748, Peace Ames.4
Zachariah's profile on FamilySearch.org states that he died 12 Oct 1793 in Mansfield, no source cited.
See Marilyn Fitzpatrick, "James Parker of Groton, Massachusetts," The Essex Genealogist, 14 (1994):28–9, 169-171 for a thorough discussion of this family. [Src: "The Essex Genealogist," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB396/i/12785/28/24563947 : accessed 18 Mar 2023).
Sources:
Birth: estimated 1714
Death: 27 Jan 1792, Lincoln, Middlesex Co, MA
Father: Richard Parks
Mother: Elizabeth Billings
Notes:
On 23 March 1764, the selectmen of Lincoln, Middlesex County, judged Zaccheus Parks of Lincoln to be non-compos (unable to care for himself), and recommended that his brother, Ephraim Parks, be his guardian. On April 1st of the same year Ephraim Parks of Lincoln was officially appointed guardian of Zaccheus, a position he held until at least 13 Nov 1783. On 12 Mar 1789 a new guardian was appointed - TImothy Browne of Lincoln who remained guardian until Zaccheus died in 1792.1
In the years 1765-1769, Zaccheus paid "toward the support of Lydiah Gages child that he was charged with."1
A Josiah Gage, son of Lydia Gage (no father mentioned), was born, presumably out of wedlock, in Lincoln 30 March 1768, per vital records of Lincoln. It is possible that Zaccheus was the father of this child, since he was charged with his support. On 31 Oct 1773, Josiah, son of Lydia Gage, was baptised "under the care and belonging to the family of Humphry Farrar and Lucy his wife," perhaps another sign that Josiah Gage was born out of wedlock.2 Note, however, that the dates in the guardianship for Zaccheus (1765-1769) are not consistent with Josiah's 1768 birth date - possibly a mistake.
Zaccheus died without a spouse, without children, and with a sizeable estate. Most of his siblings predeceased Zaccheus, resulting in an estate that had to be divided between his nieces, nephews, and their heirs. Two Middlesex County deeds identify many of the heirs of Zaccheus: David Thayer, Seth Wheelock and Elizabeth his wife, of Charlton; Isaac Parks of Thompson, Windham County, Conecticut; Elijah Thayer, John Pike and Hannah his wife, Phineas Cleveland and Rebecca his wife, John Fassett, Adonijah Fassett, Dinah Storrs, all of Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut; and Elizabeth Tyler of Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut. Many of these heirs are children of Hannah (Park) Thayer and her husband, including Elizabeth (Thayer) Wheelock, Elijah Thayer, Hannah (Thayer) Pike, Rebecca (Thayer) Cleveland, and Dinah (Thayer) Storrs. Isaac Parks was possibly the son of his brother, Isaac. John Fassett, Adonijah Fassett, and Elizabeth (Fassett) Tyler were all children of Zaccheus' sister, Elizabeth.3
Sources: